William Shaw II | Sterling Silver Chippendale-Border Salver | London | 1762

A fine Georgian sterling silver salver by William Shaw II, hallmarked in London in 1762 during the reign of George III.

The mid-eighteenth century marked one of the most confident expressions of the Rococo aesthetic in English silver. Workshops in London translated the exuberance of Continental ornament into objects that remained balanced and practical for domestic use. Salvers of this type — circular, footed, and bordered with shell and scroll ornament in the Chippendale taste — were produced for households that expected their silver to serve both decorative and functional roles.

This example is circular and raised on three cast hoof feet with scrolling supports. The border follows the Chippendale manner, formed with an undulating outline of alternating concave and convex sections, each junction enriched with a cast shell motif flanked by scrollwork. The border rises slightly above the plain central well, which is engraved with a presentation inscription in period script:

"Presented to The Reverend Arthur Wright M.A. by the Parishioners of [parish name partially obscured] on his removal to the Rectory of [destination partially obscured] as a token of their esteem. October 1883."

Added some 121 years after the salver was made, the engraving records a farewell gift from a Victorian congregation to their departing clergyman — an evocative meeting of Georgian craftsmanship and Victorian sentiment that gives the piece a layered and personal history.

The silver retains a good honest polish with age-consistent wear to the high points of the border. One foot has been repaired, visible in the photographs. The body remains sound with no splits or losses, and the hallmarks are clear and legible.

Key Details

•  Maker: William Shaw II
•  Assay Office: London
•  Date: 1762
•  Hallmarks: Lion passant (sterling), leopard's head crowned (London), date letter, maker's mark W·S
•  Material: Sterling silver
•  Form: Circular salver on three hoof feet with Chippendale shell-and-scroll border
•  Inscription: Presentation engraving dated October 1883
•  Diameter: 29 cm
•  Height: 2.8 cm
•  Weight: 589 g (approx. 18.9 troy oz)
•  Condition: Good — age-consistent wear; one foot repaired; body intact; hallmarks clear

Collector Appeal: collectors of Georgian silver, period dining displays, or those who appreciate objects that combine eighteenth-century craftsmanship with documented historical provenance.

The parishioners of 1883 chose an object already a century old to express their esteem — a reminder that well-made silver has long been valued for its ability to outlast the generations that use it.